Shinji Ikari
Reluctant pilot of Evangelion Unit-01, defined by insecurity.
Shinji Ikari is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, created by animation studio Gainax. In the original anime series, he is a boy abandoned by his father after his mother's mysterious death, who is later asked to pilot a mecha called Evangelion Unit-01 to protect Tokyo-3 from creatures called Angels. Director Hideaki Anno conceived Shinji as a representation of himself, reflecting his own depression, and the character has been analyzed in academic studies.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Neon Genesis Evangelion
- First
- Neon Genesis Evangelion chapter 1: "Angel Attack" (1994)
- Creator
- Gainax
- Nationality
- Japanese
- Gender
- Male
- Species
- Human
Facts from the source article.
Conception
Character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto drew Shinji in an ordinary summer school uniform with a white shirt, aiming for an "average character" who was "realistic and ordinary." Sadamoto interpreted Shinji's lack of enthusiasm and courage as a different form of heroism, describing it as "a refraction of a hero" rather than a reflection. Initially, Sadamoto proposed long hair that would cover Shinji's face or flutter in the wind, but he changed his mind, finding the design "too wild." He instead aimed for a look where the forehead could be seen through the bangs, giving Shinji "the look of a boyish young girl" with girl's eyes, modeling this version on the titular Nadia from Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. Writer Andrew C. McKevitt described Shinji's brown hair and blue eyes as an example of mukokuseki, a deliberate omission of ethnic features in Japanese character design. Director Hideaki Anno experienced a four-year depression before the series began production. According to Gainax co-founder Yasuhiro Takeda, the new project borrowed from the failed sequel Aoki Uru, including the concept of "not running away." Hiroki Satō stated the staff chose to focus the series on how Shinji deals with things going on inside himself. Critic Max Covill noted that Noriko Takaya, protagonist of Anno's directorial debut Gunbuster, influenced Shinji through her self-doubt and anxiety.
Appearances
Shinji is the only child of Gendo Rokubungi and Yui Ikari. When he was three, his mother disappeared during an activation test of Evangelion 01, after which his father left him with a guardian for about ten years. Gendo later invites Shinji to Tokyo-3 to pilot Evangelion Unit-01 against creatures called Angels. Shinji reluctantly agrees and fights the Angel Sachiel, then begins living with Nerv officer Misato Katsuragi and attending school. He befriends Toji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida, works with fellow pilot Rei Ayanami to defeat the Angel Ramiel, and helps stop a runaway machine called Jet Alone. He also meets Asuka Langley Soryu, and together they defeat the Angel Gaghiel.
Characterization and themes
Shinji is a dependent and introverted boy with few friends and low self-esteem, struggling to communicate and tending to be apologetic and passive. He lets others choose his clothes and fears human contact. Unlike a stereotypical mecha hero, he is apathetic and reluctant. Sadamoto conceived him as someone who would encase himself in a shell of his own making. Anno described him as a cowardly young man who believes he is unnecessary after being abandoned by his father. Writer Gerald Alva Miller noted that Shinji craves acceptance but remains incapable of accepting love. His childhood trauma leads him to doubt his existence and seek a raison d'être. In the last two episodes, he admits being afraid of himself and his father. Despite tension with Gendo, Shinji yearns to trust him and pilots Eva-01 to gain approval. Assistant director Kazuya Tsurumaki observed that Shinji is not cowardly and indecisive but obstinate and indifferent to others. Anno described him as both an introvert and righteous, tending to hide something. Sadamoto noted that fans perceive him as darker than he actually is, except in The End of Evangelion. According to Ogata, at the film's end, Shinji grows up, closing his path from childhood to adulthood.
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